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New study: More Democrats than Republicans believe in ghosts, talking with the dead, fortunetellers
Washington Examiner ^ | 12/13/09 | Byron York

Posted on 12/13/2009 3:39:35 PM PST by RogerFGay

A new study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reveals some startling differences between Republicans and Democrats on issues of spirituality and supernatural phenomenon.

The study, "Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths," reports that a significant number of Americans practice a mixture of religious beliefs, and "many also blend Christianity with Eastern or New Age beliefs such as reincarnation, astrology and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects." The report is not specifically about partisan differences, but the results of the study are broken down by party affiliation, among many other categories. And the news on that front is that Democrats are far more likely to believe in supernatural phenomenon than Republicans.

"Conservatives and Republicans report fewer experiences than liberals or Democrats communicating with the dead, seeing ghosts and consulting fortunetellers or psychics," the Pew study says. For example, 21 percent of Republicans report that they have been in touch with someone who is dead, while 36 percent of Democrats say they have done so. Eleven percent of Republicans say they have seen a ghost, while 21 percent of Democrats say so. And nine percent of Republicans say they have consulted a fortuneteller, while 22 percent of Democrats have.

There's more. Seventeen percent of Republicans say they believe in reincarnation, while 30 percent of Democrats do. Fourteen percent of Republicans say they believe in astrology, while 31 percent of Democrats do. Fifteen percent of Republicans say they view yoga as a spiritual practice, while 31 percent of Democrats do. Seventeen percent of Republicans say they believe in spiritual energy, while 30 percent of Democrats do.

There are some areas in which the two partisan groups are similar. When Pew asked respondents whether they have had a religious or mystical experience, 50 percent of Republicans said yes, as did 50 percent of Democrats. But overall, there are sizable disparities.

What accounts for them? Pew doesn't say. But the report does note that there are gender, ethnic, and racial differences in the totals. "Having been in touch with a dead person is more common among women than men," the report says. "Women are also twice as likely to have consulted a fortuneteller or psychic. Blacks report more experience feeling in touch with the dead than whites or Hispanics. But they resemble whites and Hispanics on other items, such as encounters with a ghost or consulting a fortuneteller." Some of those gender, ethnic and racial differences might come into play in the partisan totals. But in the end, the Pew report offers no solid answers for why there are such differences between Republicans and Democrats.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: byronyork; callingartbell; dopeydems; newage; pagans; paranormal; surprisesurprise
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To: RogerFGay
Totally fake study. “Republicans” believe in floating alien after life things, Angels.

Leftists like to frame the “paranormal” and spiritual to fit their ideas...like everything else.

21 posted on 12/13/2009 4:14:00 PM PST by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......?)
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To: bilhosty

I actually meet quite a few Christians in the field. Some things as per my beliefs are verboten. Necromancy such as using ouija or other means of direct spirit communication I stay away from. Also I will not do any cases which have signs of inhuman infestation..aka demonic. In about 100 investigations I have only run into one case and we referred it to Catholic clergy.


22 posted on 12/13/2009 4:16:23 PM PST by pburgh01
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To: RogerFGay

Without faith in God, people will fall for anything that’s supernatural. sad.


23 posted on 12/13/2009 4:18:32 PM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!)
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To: pburgh01
Figures, somehow.

They also seem convinced that dead people should vote as well as talk.

24 posted on 12/13/2009 4:32:09 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: LibLieSlayer

I believe more than a few kooks from kos have stuck needles in Bush dolls, Especially after the US Supreme Court told them they were bootin Gores appeal.

I don’t really care, doesn’t change my life


25 posted on 12/13/2009 4:33:47 PM PST by reefdiver ("Let His day's be few And another takes His office")
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To: RogerFGay
But in the end, the Pew report offers no solid answers for why there are such differences between Republicans and Democrats.

They don't have to. It's well known "settled science."

Republicans, by and large, are common sense, thinking people.

ALL Democrats, by comparison, are mentally deranged.

Simple, huh?

26 posted on 12/13/2009 4:33:52 PM PST by upchuck (New sign on my pickup: Are you a "Hope and Change" regretter?)
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To: RogerFGay

They call them “Voters”.


27 posted on 12/13/2009 4:35:08 PM PST by CWW (Palin & Jindal in 2012!!)
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To: pburgh01

Only the ones who believe in an afterlife - that’s a start.


28 posted on 12/13/2009 4:36:49 PM PST by Let's Roll (Stop paying ACORN to destroy America! Cut off their government funding!)
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To: RogerFGay

So the listeners of George Noory and Art Bell are liberals. No big suprise. A lot of callers to Coast to Coast AM tend to be anti-war moonbats.


29 posted on 12/13/2009 4:37:35 PM PST by yongin
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To: RogerFGay

The Democrat “leadership” in the Congress would make one believe we are all dealing with the living dead.


30 posted on 12/13/2009 4:50:50 PM PST by MIchaelTArchangel (A village in Kenya is missing its idiot.)
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To: RogerFGay
Democrats probably see the Ghost of Elections Future.
31 posted on 12/13/2009 4:53:23 PM PST by HarleyD
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To: RogerFGay

How about the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and sasquatch?


32 posted on 12/13/2009 5:00:11 PM PST by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
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To: RogerFGay

Makes sense—you have to talk to them to get ‘em to show up to vote!


33 posted on 12/13/2009 5:06:58 PM PST by Jagman
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To: RogerFGay

The Bible equates soothsayers, etc., with demons and warns not to become involved with those things. Most Christians are Republicans. Ergo... fill in the blank.


34 posted on 12/13/2009 5:10:55 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (Never argue with a man whose job depends on not being convinced. (Mencken))
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To: MayflowerMadam
Most Christians are Republicans.

Most WHITE Christians are Republicans. African Americans are the most devoutly churchgoing demographic in America, and they are 90%+ Dem, unfortunately.

35 posted on 12/13/2009 5:14:23 PM PST by Clemenza (Remember our Korean War Veterans)
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To: MayflowerMadam
Most Christians are Republicans.

Most WHITE Christians are Republicans. African Americans are the most devoutly churchgoing demographic in America, and they are 90%+ Dem, unfortunately.

36 posted on 12/13/2009 5:14:24 PM PST by Clemenza (Remember our Korean War Veterans)
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To: pburgh01

Sounds great! Love the ‘stuff’. Was into Seth Material et al, years ago. . .most interesting and parallels in many ways,’Eastern Concepts and books like ‘Tao of Physics’ and ‘Dancing Wu Li Masters’ - among many others/lol. But ‘Seth’ quite the character which gave it great color.


37 posted on 12/13/2009 5:17:47 PM PST by cricket
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To: RogerFGay

I would think this was a gimme.


38 posted on 12/13/2009 5:20:28 PM PST by Blue Collar Christian ( What happened to my tag line?)
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To: RogerFGay

That the dem populace believe the BS shoveled into them by their political leaders (and media sycophants) tells you right there that they believe in fairy tales. Ghosts & goblins aren’t much of a stretch.


39 posted on 12/13/2009 5:25:53 PM PST by Erasmus (Sid's oxymorons: Postmodern Intellectualism.)
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To: RogerFGay
For example, 21 percent of Republicans report that they have been in touch with someone who is dead, while 36 percent of Democrats say they have done so.
You still have more than one in five Republicans talking to the dead.
40 posted on 12/13/2009 5:29:28 PM PST by Salman
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